Drastic Changes

Everyone has something that has changed their life drasticallly. Either it changes for the better or for the worse. The thing that changed my life, was probably for the better. Although it wasn't really a thing, it was a who. Walking down a dark alley trying to get home from work wasn't really my plan. But neither was my boyfriend of 6 years dumping me, my car breaking down, or my unqualified coworker getting the promotion that I have been wanting for 3 years now. As a twenty-nine year old, all of these things happening to me at the same time really brought my spirits down. I was depressed, barely getting up in the morning to go to work, only to come back home and lay in bed. When I first seen the young child staring at me, it startled me. I couldn't really tell if the kid was a boy or girl in this light, or lack thereof.

"Hey, are you okay? Where are you parents?" I asked the child in a soothing voice. The child just hid more behind the stack of boxes. I turned my phone flashlight on and walked over to the child. It seemed to be a little boy with longer hair, like it has never been cut. "Are your parents around?" I asked the kid again. The boy then shook his head no. "How old are you?" I questioned. The kid held up five fingers. "You're five?" The boy then shook his head yes. I got into my purse and pulled out a bag of skittles. They were my favorite so I always had some on me. "Would you like some?" I asked the boy showing him the bag of skittles. He nodded his head with a smile on his face. I opened the bag for him and handed it to him. "What is your name?" I asked.

"Joseph" said the boy with a mouth full of skittles.

"Well Joseph, I am going to contact the police so maybe they can find out were you belong." I said while pulling out my phone. Joseph continues on eating the skittles while I called the police.

"911, how can I help you?" Asked the operator.

"Hello, I am in the alley just off of 1st Street and Kennedy Avenue and I found a boy about age five alone in the dark. It seems that no adults are around and he will barely talk."

"Okay, I have a squad car about three minutes away from you, I'll send them your way. Do you mind staying there?'

"That will be no problem." I said and hung up. "Well, it looks like we are going to get you home." I said to Joseph. But as soon as the police car pulled up and the two cops got out of the vehicle, Joseph jumped into my arms. I held onto him whiling repeating to the police what I told the operator.

"We will take it from here." said officer Hamilton. When he reached for Joseph, he held onto my neck tighter and wouldn't let go. No matter what we did, he would not let go of me.

"Ma'am, I'm sorry to ask but do you mind riding with us down to the station, since he feels more comfortable with you?" Officer James asked. I nodded my head and got into the back seat. By the time we got to the station, Joseph was asleep but his arms we still tight around me. Once we got inside, I gave my whole little speech again and a social worker came. The social worker was able to get Joseph to take a little break from being around my neck. A couple hours later, the took Joseph away to wear he would be staying until they found his parents and I went home. I got home and tried to go to sleep, but I couldn't. All I could think about was Joseph and hoped that he was okay. The next day after work, I called the number of the social worker to see how Joseph was doing. They found his parents pretty quickly but they were in no shape to take care of him so he was going into the foster system. My heart was broken for him and I had this feeling of missing him. I knew Joseph needed a home and I felt like that home was with me. So, I started the process of trying to adopt him. About two years later, he was offically my son. I think about that moment all the time and because of him, I have an amazing son who has done great things with his life, and I met my husband, officer Hamilton. Joseph was the thing that changed my life drastically and I could not be happier with the way my life went from terrible to great.

"Hey Joseph, are you okay?" Lily, my wife, asked me. I nodded wiping the tears from my eyes.

"Yeah, I just found this letter that my mom wrote. She never really went into details of how she adopted me." I said while folding the letter back up. My mother died three weeks ago and we were going through her house. My dad, had passed about 2 years ago and I know that she missed him.

"Although I don't remeber this happening, she was also my dractic changed and it was for the better also. I love her and miss her so much." I said looking into the sky.